HangoutÂ Beach Fest spreads like the oil spill – it is now the Hangout Coast Concert (or Gulf Aid) with a benefit also being held in New Orleans on Sunday.Â

HANGOUT TO DONATE ALL PROFITS

TO GULF COAST RELIEF CONCERTS FOR THE COAST

PARTNERSHIP WITHÂ NEW ORLEANS

BENEFIT ON MAY 16

(Gulf Shores, Ala.) â€“ In light of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill affecting the Gulf Coast, theÂ Hangout Beach Music and Art Festival (May 14 â€“ 16) will be donating all profits to regional coastal cleanup and preservation. In an effort to expand awareness and increase donations, The Hangout is pleased to announce a partnership with New Orleans promoter Stephen Rehage creating theÂ Concerts For The Coast. This two-city concert experience features The Hangout Beach Music and Art Festival in Gulf Shores, Alabama and a one-day concert event on Sunday, May 16 in downtown New OrleansÂ featuring Lenny Kravitz, John Legend, Allen Toussaint,Â Mos Def, Ani DiFranco and theÂ Voice of the Wetlands Allstars featuring Dr. John, Cyril Neville and Tab Benoi, and more NOLA faves, now Treme stars.

Presently, the stages are being constructed for the Hangout upon the pristine beach, but the oil slick in the Gulf threatens to endanger the wildlife habitats and livelihoods of those that live in the region. “The Gulf Coast is what makes the Hangout Music Festival so unique,â€ saysÂ Shaul Zislin, co-creator of the Hangout Beach Music and Arts Festival. â€œIt is one of the most pristine coastlines in all of America, and we will donate every penny above our costs to keep it clean.â€

Stephen Rehage, producer of the Voodoo Music Experience and Essence Festival, is working with the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation and Louisiana Film Office to produceÂ Concert for the CoastNew Orleans benefit event on Sunday, May 16.WWOZ New Orleans Public Radio will broadcast live from both events. Mobile AL Radio station WZEW-FM will be onsite at the beach providing attendees with info and music from Hangout Beach Festival via airwaves and websites. Venerable New Orleans jazz institution,Â Preservation Hall Jazz Band, will be on hand to perform at both events as well. More details on additional collaborations and programming across the Concerts for the Coast will be released later today.

The Hangout Festival is expanding its three-pronged effort aimed at Gulf Coast recovery by organizing clean-up volunteers, raising public awareness, and fundraising for the families, businesses and habitats that have been affected by this catastrophe.

Leading the Hangoutâ€™s mission for Gulf Coast awareness is national nonpartisan organizationÂ HeadCount. Festival attendees are encouraged to visit the HeadCount booth at The Hangout to write their local senators and congressmen and to bring donations and supplies for Gulf Coast relief. HeadCount will host a panel with leading environmental activists and musicians on Sunday, May 16. More information can be found in the About section atÂ www.hangoutmusicfest.com, as well as on the Hangout Beach Music and Arts Festivalâ€™s website and Facebook page,www.facebook.com/hangoutmusic.